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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
June 22 , 2009
PHARMACIST PLEADS GUILTY TO UNLAWFULLY DISPENSING MEDICATIONS
WICHITA, KAN. – Constance L. King, 47, Wichita, Kan., has pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and abetting the unlawful distribution of controlled substances.
In her plea, King admits that she and co-defendant Dr. Lawrence Simons, a physician who lives in Goddard, Kan., unlawfully distributed controlled substances. In March 2007, King learned that Simons needed a car transported from Kansas City, Kan., to Wichita. She contacted a third party identified in court documents as "Herb L" to ask if he would transport the car and store it at his lot. She said Simons was willing to pay for the service by issuing prescriptions to Herb L for controlled substances. Herb L agreed to accept that form of payment. Simons knew when she made the arrangement that Herb L was not a patient of Dr. Simons.
On March 17, 2007, King helped deliver prescriptions for Oxycontin and Lortab. The prescriptions were issued on prescription pads bearing the signature of Dr. Simons.
Sentencing is set for Sept. 14, 2009. She faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on the Oxycontin charge and a maximum penalty of 5 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the Lortab charge.
Welch commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger for their work on the case.
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